Amigo's Question and Answer Thread

[lforrest]

Two examples of the same word but different meanings .
Hell often meant death .
but JESUS also used the word , BEING IN Hell , to be cast into hell where etc
NOW this is describing more a place of eternal torment one goes to after death .
BUT the same word is used . THIS IS WHY many make the mistake
of saying JESUS was in HELL and yet think it means that enternal torment etc .
HE simply conquered death and He who had the power over death .
Judge not . do not condmen.
do ye not judge , TO Judge righteously , to correct error and etc .
YET the same word judge is used . and many often make that mistake too
when trying to justify a lie about judge not and using it to imply Overlook sins , dont expose them , dont correct .
WE just gotta get in the bible my friend .

I believe after Jesus died he went to paradise, also known as Abraham's bosom to preach to the righteous dead. There they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed, and many saints who had fallen were raised. Matthew 27:52-53

 

[amigo de christo]

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Eze 11:19

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
2Co 3:3

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2Co 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
2Co 3:2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
2Co 3:3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
2Co 3:4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
2Co 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
2Co 3:8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
2Co 3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
2Co 3:10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.
2Co 3:11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
2Co 3:12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—
2Co 3:13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Hebrews 8 :: King James Version (KJV)

Hebrews 8 - For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

www.blueletterbible.org

By golly i must be of the house of israel . CAUSE GOD PUT that INTO MY HEART .
There shall be ONE FOLD , ONE SHEPARD . lets not be so quick to forget that either .
The same paul , peter , john , jude and others that were jews , SURE SEEMED to have that covenant upon their hearts .
And sure seemed to teach the author of said covenant to both the jew and gentile .
We about to find out men have been mistaken about many things .
EITHER you are talking to a jew who was converted to JESUS and that is upon my heart
OR you are talking to a gentile who was converted to JESUS and that is upon my heart .
EITHER WAY it dont matter . it was one covenant for the jew and gentile , to merge the two as one
TO break down the middle wall of partian and to create
a people regardless of their flesh , THAT WAS ONE PEOPLE , WITH ONE HEART that LOVED GOD .
The more we read the bible without the influence of men , BY golly the more it will come together .

 

[amigo de christo]

I believe after Jesus died he went to paradise, also known as Abraham's bosom to preach to the righteous dead. There they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed, and many saints who had fallen were raised. Matthew 27:52-53

Peter writes about such .
But do take heed that all of these had died BEFORE JESUS CAME .
BEFORE JESUS came .
and i do say BEFORE JESUS CAME .
as for those who deny HIM now . SODOM will whence at the pain coming upon them .
FAR WORSE for them than ever it was for Soddom .
PHEWWEE . i do suggest we never offer unto this world false hope .
Can you imagine the torment that awaits those who told muslims and other religoins
they had no need to repent of said religoin .
AND if you think that is bad , AND IT IS , can you imagine being one who used the name of JESUS
and yet preached this crap . MAN using his name to do the devils work
is worse than even doing the devils work . Man its gonna be bad on the day of the LORD for many .
BUT , GOD SURE DOES DESIRE LIFE and rather that they would have repented and been reconclied to HIM .
THERE BE ONLY ONE NAME we must preach whereby a man COULD EVER BE RECONCILED TO GOD .
HIS NAME BE JESUS THE CHRIST . not allah and good works , NOPE that DAMNS
not budda and good works , NOPE that damns . NOT any other religoin and so called lovey do , THAT DAMNS .
JESUS SAVES and if one lips his name and yet loveth their sin and their works be dung , THEN THEY DONT KNOW HIM EITHER .

 

[amigo de christo]

now prove me wrong through the scrips . and ps dont copy and paste , You just bring scriptures please .

 

[amigo de christo]

I believe after Jesus died he went to paradise, also known as Abraham's bosom to preach to the righteous dead. There they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed, and many saints who had fallen were raised. Matthew 27:52-53

While i would not necessarily have called it paradise , HE did go into the PRISON and did preach to those
who in the days of etc , long before JESUS came , to those .
But mark my words .
And lets use every bit of the bible to make our stance and not rather the words of men .
I want every man woman and if we do have youngsters here
to come and prove my simple message wrong . YOU SEE i do preach JESUS and HIM CRUCIFIED
and I ABSOLUTELY refuse to offer up any false hope or false consolation .
Because THAT BE VAINITY my friend , that be a LIE my freind .
BUT JESUS , that GOSPEL that i do offer up , NOW THAT SAVES . and nutting else can .

 

[Johann]

By golly i must be of the house of israel . CAUSE GOD PUT that INTO MY HEART .
There shall be ONE FOLD , ONE SHEPARD . lets not be so quick to forget that either .
The same paul , peter , john , jude and others that were jews , SURE SEEMED to have that covenant upon their hearts .
And sure seemed to teach the author of said covenant to both the jew and gentile .
We about to find out men have been mistaken about many things .
EITHER you are talking to a jew who was converted to JESUS and that is upon my heart
OR you are talking to a gentile who was converted to JESUS and that is upon my heart .
EITHER WAY it dont matter . it was one covenant for the jew and gentile , to merge the two as one
TO break down the middle wall of partian and to create
a people regardless of their flesh , THAT WAS ONE PEOPLE , WITH ONE HEART that LOVED GOD .
The more we read the bible without the influence of men , BY golly the more it will come together .

I think we approach the study of Scripture with different hermeneutics. Some people simply read, while others engage in deeper study.

Different Methods of Studying the Bible:

**1. Literal/Grammatical-Historical Method
Focus: Understanding the text by considering its plain meaning in its original historical and cultural context. This method emphasizes the author's intended meaning, the grammatical structure, and historical background.
Application: Often used in traditional evangelical circles to interpret Scripture based on the belief that the Bible should be taken at face value unless context clearly indicates a figurative meaning.

**2. Expository Method
Focus: In-depth analysis of specific passages or books of the Bible, verse by verse, to extract meaning and application.
Application: Commonly used in preaching and teaching to unpack the meaning of a passage in a systematic way, often integrating historical context and theological themes.

**3. Topical/Thematic Study
Focus: Studying the Bible by focusing on specific topics or themes across different books and passages, such as grace, faith, or the character of God.
Application: Useful for understanding what the entire Bible says about a particular subject, leading to a more holistic understanding of biblical teachings.

**4. Allegorical Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible by finding deeper, often symbolic or spiritual, meanings behind the literal words. This method is rooted in the belief that Scripture has multiple layers of meaning.
Application: Historically used in early Christian writings and in some theological traditions to draw out moral or spiritual lessons that go beyond the literal sense of the text.

**5. Devotional Method
Focus: Using the Bible for personal edification and spiritual growth, often involving reading short passages and reflecting on how they apply to one's life.
Application: Common in personal or small group Bible studies, where the focus is on drawing closer to God and applying biblical principles in daily living.

**6. Inductive Bible Study
Focus: Engaging with the text through observation (what does the text say?), interpretation (what does the text mean?), and application (how does the text apply to my life?).
Application: Encourages a hands-on approach to Bible study, allowing the text to speak for itself before consulting commentaries or other resources.

**7. Canonical/Theological Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible with an emphasis on its unity and the theological themes that run throughout Scripture. This method views the Bible as a coherent whole, with an emphasis on the progression of revelation and the unfolding of God's plan.
Application: Often used by theologians and scholars who seek to understand how different parts of the Bible contribute to overarching theological concepts, such as covenant, kingdom, or redemption.

**8. Historical-Critical Method
Focus: Analyzing the Bible by examining its historical context, sources, and literary forms. This method often involves questioning traditional interpretations and considering the human element in the writing of Scripture.
Application: Common in academic and liberal theological circles, where the emphasis is on understanding the Bible within its historical context and recognizing the influence of culture, politics, and religion on its composition.
These methods reflect different hermeneutical approaches to Scripture, each with its own emphasis and application. Depending on one's perspective and goals, different methods can offer unique insights into the Bible's meaning and relevance.

 

[amigo de christo]

I think we approach the study of Scripture with different hermeneutics. Some people simply read, while others engage in deeper study.

Different Methods of Studying the Bible:

**1. Literal/Grammatical-Historical Method
Focus: Understanding the text by considering its plain meaning in its original historical and cultural context. This method emphasizes the author's intended meaning, the grammatical structure, and historical background.
Application: Often used in traditional evangelical circles to interpret Scripture based on the belief that the Bible should be taken at face value unless context clearly indicates a figurative meaning.

**2. Expository Method
Focus: In-depth analysis of specific passages or books of the Bible, verse by verse, to extract meaning and application.
Application: Commonly used in preaching and teaching to unpack the meaning of a passage in a systematic way, often integrating historical context and theological themes.

**3. Topical/Thematic Study
Focus: Studying the Bible by focusing on specific topics or themes across different books and passages, such as grace, faith, or the character of God.
Application: Useful for understanding what the entire Bible says about a particular subject, leading to a more holistic understanding of biblical teachings.

**4. Allegorical Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible by finding deeper, often symbolic or spiritual, meanings behind the literal words. This method is rooted in the belief that Scripture has multiple layers of meaning.
Application: Historically used in early Christian writings and in some theological traditions to draw out moral or spiritual lessons that go beyond the literal sense of the text.

**5. Devotional Method
Focus: Using the Bible for personal edification and spiritual growth, often involving reading short passages and reflecting on how they apply to one's life.
Application: Common in personal or small group Bible studies, where the focus is on drawing closer to God and applying biblical principles in daily living.

**6. Inductive Bible Study
Focus: Engaging with the text through observation (what does the text say?), interpretation (what does the text mean?), and application (how does the text apply to my life?).
Application: Encourages a hands-on approach to Bible study, allowing the text to speak for itself before consulting commentaries or other resources.

**7. Canonical/Theological Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible with an emphasis on its unity and the theological themes that run throughout Scripture. This method views the Bible as a coherent whole, with an emphasis on the progression of revelation and the unfolding of God's plan.
Application: Often used by theologians and scholars who seek to understand how different parts of the Bible contribute to overarching theological concepts, such as covenant, kingdom, or redemption.

**8. Historical-Critical Method
Focus: Analyzing the Bible by examining its historical context, sources, and literary forms. This method often involves questioning traditional interpretations and considering the human element in the writing of Scripture.
Application: Common in academic and liberal theological circles, where the emphasis is on understanding the Bible within its historical context and recognizing the influence of culture, politics, and religion on its composition.
These methods reflect different hermeneutical approaches to Scripture, each with its own emphasis and application. Depending on one's perspective and goals, different methods can offer unique insights into the Bible's meaning and relevance.

THUS me thinks its time we drop things and start fresh and anew
I make you this promise . whatever question you bring me to answer
i will do it without running to any source . but rather just to the bible and bring my own answers .
BUT I must ask you TO DO the same . DONT run to copy and past from other leaders .
YOU answer with the knowledge you have at hand . I will do the same my friend .
Rest assured i will bring a lot of bible . it might not be recongized by some as being the bible
due to i read it so much i often just write things and dont bring verse chapter and etc .
Now do the same . Lets simply talk about things without running to sources .
WELL other than THE BIBLE . let us see what occurs my friend .

 

[Ronald Nolette]

At first you said NOT to pray to Jesus-and now you concur.

Jesus Intercedes:
Romans 8:34 (Lexham Bible):

"Who is the one who will condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died, and more than that he was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."


[Jesus pleads on our behalf. as a mediator not as one who hears our intercessions and then goes to the Father.] Don't know what to make of this?

Hebrews 7:25 (Lexham Bible):

"Therefore also he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, because he always lives in order to intercede for them."

The Holy Spirit Intercedes:
Romans 8:26-27 (Lexham Bible):
"And likewise also, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as one ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unexpressed groanings. And the one who searches our hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes on behalf of the saints according to the will of God."

Jesus Hears:
John 14:13-14 (Lexham Bible):

"And whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

1 John 5:14-15 (Lexham Bible):

"And this is the confidence that we have before him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him."

We do not pray to Jesus. None of these verses teach to pray to Jesus. The spirit intercedes within us with groanings for things we know not how to pray for.

Interceding is acting on behalf of one. Not listening to their prayers and then bringing them to someone else to answer.

Remember JESUS HImself taught us to pray to the Father in HIS name.

 

[Johann]

THUS me thinks its time we drop things and start fresh and anew
I make you this promise . whatever question you bring me to answer
i will do it without running to any source . but rather just to the bible and bring my own answers .
BUT I must ask you TO DO the same . DONT run to copy and past from other leaders .
YOU answer with the knowledge you have at hand . I will do the same my friend .
Rest assured i will bring a lot of bible . it might not be recongized by some as being the bible
due to i read it so much i often just write things and dont bring verse chapter and etc .
Now do the same . Lets simply talk about things without running to sources .
WELL other than THE BIBLE . let us see what occurs my friend .

I think let's leave this.
You and me are not on the same train since everything you see is in a negative.
That's unfortunate.

 

[lforrest]

Peter writes about such .
But do take heed that all of these had died BEFORE JESUS CAME .
BEFORE JESUS came .
and i do say BEFORE JESUS CAME .
as for those who deny HIM now . SODOM will whence at the pain coming upon them .
FAR WORSE for them than ever it was for Soddom .
PHEWWEE . i do suggest we never offer unto this world false hope .
Can you imagine the torment that awaits those who told muslims and other religoins
they had no need to repent of said religoin .
AND if you think that is bad , AND IT IS , can you imagine being one who used the name of JESUS
and yet preached this crap . MAN using his name to do the devils work
is worse than even doing the devils work . Man its gonna be bad on the day of the LORD for many .
BUT , GOD SURE DOES DESIRE LIFE and rather that they would have repented and been reconclied to HIM .
THERE BE ONLY ONE NAME we must preach whereby a man COULD EVER BE RECONCILED TO GOD .
HIS NAME BE JESUS THE CHRIST . not allah and good works , NOPE that DAMNS
not budda and good works , NOPE that damns . NOT any other religoin and so called lovey do , THAT DAMNS .
JESUS SAVES and if one lips his name and yet loveth their sin and their works be dung , THEN THEY DONT KNOW HIM EITHER .

I agree. Jesus going to preach to the dead has no relevance to us now. God is reasonable in his judgements. When the world was ignorant of the son of God they lacked knowledge of him and his teachings. Now he is revealed and there is no excuse for not believing when presented with the truth.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I think we approach the study of Scripture with different hermeneutics. Some people simply read, while others engage in deeper study.

Different Methods of Studying the Bible:

**1. Literal/Grammatical-Historical Method
Focus: Understanding the text by considering its plain meaning in its original historical and cultural context. This method emphasizes the author's intended meaning, the grammatical structure, and historical background.
Application: Often used in traditional evangelical circles to interpret Scripture based on the belief that the Bible should be taken at face value unless context clearly indicates a figurative meaning.

**2. Expository Method
Focus: In-depth analysis of specific passages or books of the Bible, verse by verse, to extract meaning and application.
Application: Commonly used in preaching and teaching to unpack the meaning of a passage in a systematic way, often integrating historical context and theological themes.

**3. Topical/Thematic Study
Focus: Studying the Bible by focusing on specific topics or themes across different books and passages, such as grace, faith, or the character of God.
Application: Useful for understanding what the entire Bible says about a particular subject, leading to a more holistic understanding of biblical teachings.

**4. Allegorical Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible by finding deeper, often symbolic or spiritual, meanings behind the literal words. This method is rooted in the belief that Scripture has multiple layers of meaning.
Application: Historically used in early Christian writings and in some theological traditions to draw out moral or spiritual lessons that go beyond the literal sense of the text.

**5. Devotional Method
Focus: Using the Bible for personal edification and spiritual growth, often involving reading short passages and reflecting on how they apply to one's life.
Application: Common in personal or small group Bible studies, where the focus is on drawing closer to God and applying biblical principles in daily living.

**6. Inductive Bible Study
Focus: Engaging with the text through observation (what does the text say?), interpretation (what does the text mean?), and application (how does the text apply to my life?).
Application: Encourages a hands-on approach to Bible study, allowing the text to speak for itself before consulting commentaries or other resources.

**7. Canonical/Theological Method
Focus: Interpreting the Bible with an emphasis on its unity and the theological themes that run throughout Scripture. This method views the Bible as a coherent whole, with an emphasis on the progression of revelation and the unfolding of God's plan.
Application: Often used by theologians and scholars who seek to understand how different parts of the Bible contribute to overarching theological concepts, such as covenant, kingdom, or redemption.

**8. Historical-Critical Method
Focus: Analyzing the Bible by examining its historical context, sources, and literary forms. This method often involves questioning traditional interpretations and considering the human element in the writing of Scripture.
Application: Common in academic and liberal theological circles, where the emphasis is on understanding the Bible within its historical context and recognizing the influence of culture, politics, and religion on its composition.
These methods reflect different hermeneutical approaches to Scripture, each with its own emphasis and application. Depending on one's perspective and goals, different methods can offer unique insights into the Bible's meaning and relevance.

A good bible student will intertwine 1,2,3,5 in their study. 4,7,8 are merely as reformatting of 1,2,3.. #4 is a very dangerous method of looking at Scripture for it has laways led to private interpretations and the birth of many false teachings over the centuries.

 

[Johann]

We do not pray to Jesus. None of these verses teach to pray to Jesus. The spirit intercedes within us with groanings for things we know not how to pray for.

Interceding is acting on behalf of one. Not listening to their prayers and then bringing them to someone else to answer.

Remember JESUS HImself taught us to pray to the Father in HIS name.

Actually, it's important to note that while Jesus did teach us to pray to the Father in His name (as seen in John 16:23-24), Scripture also shows that praying to Jesus is appropriate. The Greek word for "pray" (προσεύχομαι, proseuchomai) is used in various contexts, and there are examples in the New Testament where believers directly address Jesus in prayer.

For instance, in Acts 7:59, when Stephen was being martyred, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Here, Stephen directly addresses Jesus, indicating that prayer to Him is recognized. The Greek term proseuchomai can refer to addressing any divine figure, and since Jesus is fully divine, praying to Him is consistent with Christian theology.

As for the Holy Spirit interceding (Romans 8:26), the Greek word used is ὑπερεντυγχάνω (hyperentygchanō), which means "to intercede on behalf of another." This doesn't mean the Spirit is just passing along prayers; rather, the Spirit is actively working within us, helping us in our weaknesses and aligning our prayers with God's will.

So while Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in His name, it’s also biblically sound to pray to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s intercession is much more than just forwarding our prayers; it's a deeply involved process of divine assistance.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I agree.
But I think that maybe it's meant in a more concrete way.
Maybe Jesus meant it to be a real Kingdom with real people that could make the world be a better place.
Spiritual, yes, but also more if we could only be in accord and live the life He meant for us.
I think that Jesus came for this FIRST, and then realized a new church had to be established because this Kingdom (spiritual or otherwise) could not exist within the Jewish religion that was established and which crucified Him.

Well the Jewish religion culminates in Jesus, Which is why tens of thousands of Jews received Jesus as Messiah.

But the physical kingdom is a future reality. Many call it the Millennial Kingdom. There is enormous prophecy in both the Old and New that speaks of life on earth during the 1000 year reign of Jesus .

And most definitely it will be a kingdom where righteousness, truth,m justice and holiness are a way of life for all.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Actually, it's important to note that while Jesus did teach us to pray to the Father in His name (as seen in John 16:23-24), Scripture also shows that praying to Jesus is appropriate. The Greek word for "pray" (προσεύχομαι, proseuchomai) is used in various contexts, and there are examples in the New Testament where believers directly address Jesus in prayer.

For instance, in Acts 7:59, when Stephen was being martyred, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Here, Stephen directly addresses Jesus, indicating that prayer to Him is recognized. The Greek term proseuchomai can refer to addressing any divine figure, and since Jesus is fully divine, praying to Him is consistent with Christian theology.

As for the Holy Spirit interceding (Romans 8:26), the Greek word used is ὑπερεντυγχάνω (hyperentygchanō), which means "to intercede on behalf of another." This doesn't mean the Spirit is just passing along prayers; rather, the Spirit is actively working within us, helping us in our weaknesses and aligning our prayers with God's will.

So while Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in His name, it’s also biblically sound to pray to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s intercession is much more than just forwarding our prayers; it's a deeply involved process of divine assistance.

What Stephen did was simply ask Jesus to rec eive His spirit. We cannot formulate a docrtrine based on one passage.

Nowhere do we see any command or suggestion to intercede on behalf of others to jesus. we do not make requests to Jesus (Lord bless my family)

Jesus was specific when He told us to pray to the Father.

We worship, glorify, exalt and magnify Jesus. But we do not biblically make requests, pleas, intercessions to anyone but the Father.

 

[Johann]

We worship, glorify, exalt and magnify Jesus. But we do not biblically make requests, pleas, intercessions to anyone but the Father.

I don't agree with you-and don't accuse me of not quoting context.

1. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Paul’s Plea to Jesus: "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'"
Explanation: In this passage, Paul directly addresses "the Lord," which in the context refers to Jesus. Paul is making a personal plea, asking Jesus to remove his "thorn in the flesh." Jesus responds to Paul, indicating that Paul’s plea was directed toward Him.

**2. 1 Corinthians 1:2
Calling on the Name of Jesus: "...to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."
Explanation: Here, Paul mentions that all Christians "call on the name of Jesus Christ." The Greek word for "call" (ἐπικαλέω, epikaleō) can mean to invoke or appeal to someone, which includes making requests or prayers.

**3. Romans 10:12-13
Calling on the Name of the Lord: "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"
Explanation: Paul quotes from Joel 2:32 and applies it to Jesus, showing that calling on the name of the Lord (Jesus) is an act of faith that includes prayer and requests.

**4. Philippians 2:9-11
Exalting and Worshiping Jesus: "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Explanation: While this passage emphasizes worship and exaltation, the act of bowing the knee and confessing Jesus as Lord naturally extends to prayer, as the context includes worshipful submission and recognition of His authority.
5. 1 Timothy 1:12
Thanking Christ Jesus: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."
Explanation: Paul directly thanks Christ Jesus for His role in his ministry. This shows that Paul not only makes requests but also expresses gratitude directly to Jesus.

**6. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Prayer for Comfort and Strength: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
Explanation: In this prayer, Paul appeals to both Jesus Christ and God the Father, asking for comfort and strength. This demonstrates that Paul sees Jesus as an appropriate recipient of prayer alongside the Father.

**7. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Direct Petition to Jesus: "Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
Explanation: Paul directly petitions both the Father and Jesus in this prayer, asking Jesus to direct his way and to establish the hearts of the Thessalonians.

**8. Romans 1:7
Grace and Peace from Jesus: "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Explanation: While this is a greeting, Paul is invoking a blessing of grace and peace from both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, implying that Jesus is a source of these blessings, which believers may request.

**9. 2 Corinthians 13:14
Benediction Addressing Jesus: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
Explanation: In this benediction, Paul prays for the grace of Jesus Christ to be with the believers, again indicating that requests for divine favor can be directed to Jesus.

**10. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Sanctification by Jesus: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Explanation: Paul prays for the sanctification and preservation of believers, linking the outcome directly to the coming of Jesus Christ, implying that such preservation is within Jesus’ purview and authority.

If the fundamental blessing of the gospel is our justification, then the preeminent one is our adoption. We are children of God and joint heirs with Christ. Paul puts it magnificently: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal. 4:4-7). Abba, a word Jesus himself used in his own prayer life (Mark 14:36), is intimate but reverent. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Christian as a child of God is caught up in the communion of the Son with the Father.

We see two important truths, then, in prayer to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. First, Christian praying is Trinitarian praying. This is deeply important, for much Christian praying in my experience is Unitarian: “Dear God. . . . Amen.” Unitarian praying makes it hard to see why there’s any real difference in praying to the God of the Bible as opposed to praying to the God of, say, the Qur’an. Second, Christian praying exhibits the very structure of the gospel. Jesus stands at the center as the mediator, the Father as the addressee, and the Spirit as the enabler.

So can you pray to Jesus? Of course you can. But let me suggest if this is the predominant way we pray we may lose something of enormous importance. We may lose sight of the glorious gospel with the Father as the architect of our salvation, the Son as the achiever, and the Spirit as the applier.

 

[Pierac]

This is a place where we can ask each other questions about the Bible, our Christian faith, the Lord, etc, and give our answers.
Our brother @amigo de christo came up with this idea, to help us all help each other to understand the biblical truth, what is not truth and grow more in our faith.

First question.
Do all religions worship the same God?

Please feel free to leave your answers.

No... The Jews and Muslim"s worship the 1 true God... The God of Abraham!

Modern Christians... worship the God's of the Greek's and Roman world view of the 2nd Century... Fully God and Fully man... is a Greek concept! They... totally Ignore the ... Old testament teachings...

Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

So God is not a Man nor Son of man....

Yet... Jesus was Both....

Peter... at the Beginning of the Church of Jesus our Lord and savior.... Told everyone who Jesus was... Peter's actual first statement to the world was... !!!

Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--

This is the Crazy truth...!!! You can't make this stuff Up!!!

 

[GodsGrace]

Now for the scariest thing of all .
Just as it was written and said not all of Israel is of ISRAEL
so too i must warn , not all of christendom is of CHRIST .
too many follow another jesus . and when i say that i ain talking about a error here and there
I MEAN A WHOLE other image of what they THINK IS JESUS , IS LOVE and is OF GOD they do heed too .
ONLY upon easy examination its clear to see
That satan himself can appear as an angel of light . THOUGH HE BE DARKNESS
and that He and his men and co workers can wear more than a coat of strange colors
they wear WOOL by which to decieve those in said churches to beleive in their many color robe they call love and salvation .
The devil do not sleep my friend . and even paul had some trying to preach another jesus
and another gopsel . ONLY at least they corrected and warned against it
THEY DIDNT SHOVEL IT UNTO THE CHRUCH like todays leaders do . Todays leaders
, most of them , JESUS , and all apostels would have rebuked and even warned the people against such leaders .

I would say that all Christians would agree with you and we're all concerned about this.
You do seem to be very obsessed by this.
I think it's good to read the bible by ourselves - if, for nothing else, because God will judge us by what we know and our own conscience - but I do also believe that it's good to have teachers/persons that know the bible well and can help us to also understand it better.

I don't care for the idea that someone reads the bible all by himself, comes to complicated conclusions all by himself, and then comes on to these sites and tries to "teach" others what he believes.

This is creating many problems in Christianity.
And I'm not sure what the solution is.

 

[GodsGrace]

Well the Jewish religion culminates in Jesus, Which is why tens of thousands of Jews received Jesus as Messiah.

But the physical kingdom is a future reality. Many call it the Millennial Kingdom. There is enormous prophecy in both the Old and New that speaks of life on earth during the 1000 year reign of Jesus .

And most definitely it will be a kingdom where righteousness, truth,m justice and holiness are a way of life for all.

I agree. But apparently, I'm not making myself clear.
I wasn't speaking about the New Jerusalem.
I was speaking about how Jesus wanted to make life better on earth, right now, right here, and how He intended for us Christians to
create that change by our own behavior and in extending our good to others.

 

[GodsGrace]

No... The Jews and Muslim"s worship the 1 true God... The God of Abraham!

Modern Christians... worship the God's of the Greek's and Roman world view of the 2nd Century... Fully God and Fully man... is a Greek concept! They... totally Ignore the ... Old testament teachings...

Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

So God is not a Man nor Son of man....

Yet... Jesus was Both....

Peter... at the Beginning of the Church of Jesus our Lord and savior.... Told everyone who Jesus was... Peter's actual first statement to the world was... !!!

Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--

This is the Crazy truth...!!! You can't make this stuff Up!!!

I believe your post is not allowed on this site.
Jesus is God.
If you don't believe He is...
then you cannot call yourself a Christian.

 

[Lizbeth]

Spiritual discernment is good. Discerning meaning of the Word or good from evil. Additionally, an accurate assessment of reality, understanding the truth is good. A judgment comes after the assessment and so could be based on something that is not true. An example would be someone claiming tha all Prostestants are deceived and led by Satan or the Catholic Church and the Pope are all anti-Christs. That is not a sound spiritual discernment leading to an inaccrate judgment.
Also condemnation is not for us to deliver, especially condemning Christians.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Rom. 8:1

Brother...if I discern that someone or something is not of God (and discernment comes from God, from the Holy Spirit)......that is not the same thing as condemning them. Condemning/judging is for God to do.

I know the Catholic church is not of God and Christ....because the LORD showed me and made it clear that the spirit ruling that institution is not HIS Spirit, but another. Be nice to Catholics and by all means share the gospel with them because most of them are not born again and they need to receive Jesus.......but do not be unequally yoked or follow them or their religion.